Page 30 - All About History - Issue 59-17

Norse culture

While the most important disputes might be the thralls, slaves who were usually foreigners
discussed at the Allthing, crimes were normally captured on raids.
tried at the local and regional level at a Law-Thing, Each year at the Thing, the free men found their
which were smaller but more met more frequently. voice. We say men because, although attendance
These would cover topics such as property was every free man’s duty, it was optional for
disputes and marital affairs, but women. While it is argued that
perhaps also those that needed Torgny Lagmann, the this was for the practical reason
to be dealt with sooner, such as a name of at least three that someone still needed to watch
law-sayers, depicted
murder investigation. at Uppsala the homestead, it came with the
In most communities, a Thing assumption that men should
would be presided over by a handle public affairs and domestic
chieftain or even a king. However, life was better suited to women.
this was not always the case. Women were effectively relegated
In Iceland there was no single but this made the Vikings no
figurehead at the centre of the worse than that other cradle of
rule of law and the people would democracy, Ancient Greece.
elect a leader — admittedly, they Sitting on a panel — or a jury,
still usually came from one of the as we would now call it — the
wealthiest families on the island. mostly male karls would listen to
But it was the contribution both sides of any dispute, with
made by the free men, known as karls, that made testimony from the injured party, the accused
the Viking assemblies so much more democratic and relevant witnesses. While the free men would
and set the standard for the system of law we often be swayed and influenced by the chieftain
recognise today. Viking society had a simple (who often had their own agenda), they would also
structure, with the majority of wealth and power be advised and guided by the law-sayer.
in the hands of nobles, the jarls. Below them In a culture that had little to no writing other
were the karls and then at the very bottom were than runic symbols, the laws created, decisions

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Open-air trial Viking disputes would be settled at assemblies known as Things

The memory man
With no written laws, past laws
and decisions would be memorised Voice of the people
by a law-sayer, who would advise The size of the jury would vary
the chieftain and the jury as well depending on the seriousness
as be part of the final decision. of the crime, with 12, 24 or 36
men. All had to be free men
and at least 12 years old.

For and against
Witnesses would be able to
speak on behalf of or against the
accused but sometimes only got
involved for personal gain or to The gathering
settle an old score. They would Viking trials were often held
swear on a bloodied ring. in a convenient or well-known
place, such as a field or a
prominent mound that was
easily found by those travelling
from all over the region.

In the dock
With no laws against ‘the state’ Wealth and power
as such, most trials were brought The chief, who was often elected and from
by one individual against one of the community’s wealthier families,
another or their family regarding would preside over the trial. Unfortunately,
property, honour, or the breaking chiefs were not above being bribed or
of an arrangement or oath. passing judgements in their own self-interest.